I am wondering as we get closer to Christmas, less than 90 days away, what to do about gifts. I already bought a Christmas present for my husband ($135 clearance) and he will get that once he gets home in late January. He mentioned another item which I will either try to get him for Valentines Day or our anniversary. It should be about $30 I expect; I am just not sure where to look for it.

I always go crazy spending easily $200 per person and that is including the step children. Well this year I got NO response what so ever from the Birthday gifts I mailed so I have decided that they will not miss receiving a Christmas package. If they say anything then my husband can send them a LATE Christmas Check once he gets home. Of course it will be my money, since he will then be underemployed again etc but it will be signed from him so it will be like he got it done when he was able to.

I am trying to come up with a list for our Son, I do not want him to have any more legos since we went through a point when he would start building a set, not finish it and leave it on the floor and not put them away even when I asked. So I have a huge bag of legos hidden away that I picked up and he will get them when he grows up and starts taking better care of his toys.

He has shown an interest in a Camera and I am hoping to get him one on Black Friday for cheap. Last Year I was able to snag a Kodak 10megapixal 4.5 inch screen camera for his stepsister for $35.00 at CVS after ECB rebates and Overage from there Black Friday Deals. I would LOVE to be able to pull a deal similar this year; but since looking the closest I have seen is an off brand for $49.00. I will be watching the clearance section until black Friday and looking for a deal on that day also. I found him a cheap $19.00 one but it did not take SD cards and it did not have an autofocus, with I have learned are much needed. The $19 camera would lose all the photos when the batteries went dead or the battery latch was opened. So that got returned.

I plan to get him one game for his Leapster 2. Not sure which one yet but I have plenty of time and I am sure he will change his mind twelve times before then. We bought him a leapster2 last Christmas even though he had a vSmile (which I will be trying to sell here shortly to reduce his vast toy collection and increase debt payoff money). He is on this wanting a Nintendo DS kick but he is not going to be getting one. I will get him a new game for his Leapster2 but I will not spend $200 to get him a Nintendo DS and all the small add on and games. He needs to show me he will take better care of his toys first.

I find it so hard to wait until the last minute to find out what he will be asking Santa for but that may actually be the cheapest way to go. I could get him the camera and Leapster2 game and I already have a Free DVD, a Small Lego Bianicle set for his stocking. I am going to buy some Fruit Snacks or snack packs to fill out the rest of the stocking which will be set aside for use in his Cold Lunches. Then getting him two items from Santa, one as a present and one for his stocking.

Last year I started shopping early like I always do and when it came time to wrap presents I was amazed at how much I had hidden away for DS and DH. This year I will keep it super small and easy. This year I just have to remember not to buy anything early (before Black Friday) unless it is a super deal on a clearance camera.